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Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

Mel Kiper didn't give the Detroit Lions an offensive tackle in his last mock draft, but the ESPN draft analyst said in a conference call today he doesn't expect either of the draft's top two linemen, Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher, to get past the No. 5 pick.

"I think by 5 they'll be gone," Kiper said. "I think by 7 (the top three offensive tackles will) all be gone. I projected (Lane) Johnson (as the 11th pick). If I was going to project trades, I think you could see somebody move up to get him or Fisher."

Fisher, from Central Michigan, Texas A&M's Joeckel and Oklahoma's Johnson all worked out for the Chiefs, owners of the No. 1 overall pick, and Kansas City is projected to take an offensive lineman by most draft experts.

The Jaguars at No. 2 and Eagles at No. 4 also have needs at tackle, and the Lions lost both starting tackles from last year when Jeff Backus retired last month and Gosder Cherilus left in free agency.

Kiper gave the Lions Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner in his latest mock draft last week, with both Fisher and Johnson on the board.

He said today he'd take Milliner or BYU defensive end Ziggy Ansah over an interior line prospect like Alabama guard Chance Warmack, but he expects both Fisher and Johnson to be under consideration for the Lions.

"Lane Johnson's a top-10 guy, at worst 11 to San Diego, possibly as high as seven to Arizona, or six if Cleveland trades out and a team like San Diego jumps in," Kiper said. "He's the kind of guy that has to even be in the discussion even at 5 for Detroit. He's right there with Joeckel and Fisher.

"It's really a three-way battle to see who's going to be the first tackle taken. You lean a little bit to Joeckel because he's been there with two systems, more experienced. Fisher's a Mid-American Conference (product), who I've liked all year but still Mid-American Conference competition. And then you think about Lane Johnson, with all the changes of position, a little late developer, needs to get a little stronger in the lower body and improve his technique just a bit. But I think the Senior Bowl week really helped him. He can play right tackle or left tackle, and Lane Johnson is solidly one of the top 11 players in this draft, and I think he goes in the top seven right now."

Briefly: The Lions announced they hosted two more pre-draft visitors today, offensive linemen Brian Winters of Kent State and Vinston Painter of Virginia Tech.